In a small village in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province, parents are expressing their concerns about a particular teacher at Magama Secondary School.
They allege that the teacher is involved in satanic rituals and attempting to recruit students into a cult. The accusations arose after a group of pupils at the school experienced a mysterious ailment that left them unable to walk. Speculations arose that the incidents were somehow linked to the teacher.
A parent reached out to B-Metro, urging them to investigate the matter further, suggesting that there might be more to the story than initially reported. The concerned parent claimed that the teacher responsible for the alleged strange happenings was within the confines of Magama Secondary School. The news outlet decided to visit the village of Ntulane in Ward 13 to gather more information.
During the visit, 70-year-old Etah Bulo voiced her concerns, firmly stating that the teacher in question was engaging in satanic rituals and demanded their immediate departure from the community. Bulo emphasized the negative impact on the affected children, some of whom had been prevented from attending school by their parents due to these concerns.
Village head Vincent Hadebe called a meeting in an attempt to calm the villagers’ anger and discourage them from taking matters into their own hands. He stressed the importance of handling the issue lawfully.
Sisasenkosi Ndlovu, one of the parents, shared her distressing experience of seeking medical help for her daughter, who had been affected by the unexplained condition. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to find a cure, Ndlovu resorted to traditional healers who suggested that the teacher was responsible for the rituals. In order to cover the costs of seeking assistance, Ndlovu had to sell nine cows, highlighting the financial burden and emotional toll this situation had placed on her family.
Other parents also expressed their frustration and shared stories of their children’s similar experiences. Monica Moyo, for instance, described her daughter’s persistent knee pain and the intermittent nature of the condition despite seeking help from traditional healers.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s communication and advocacy director, Taungana Ndoro, stated that they had not yet received any reports regarding this incident. However, he mentioned that such cases are typically addressed through a multi-sectoral approach involving engagement with traditional leaders and school authorities, as the ministry lacks the expertise to handle matters related to alleged ritual practices.
The headmaster of Magama Secondary School, Cornet Ncube, declined to comment and referred B-Metro to the District Schools Inspector for further inquiries.
